Further analysis of scintillation index for a laser beam propagating through moderate-to-strong non-Kolmogorov turbulence based on generalized effective atmospheric spectral model

A new expression of the scintillation index(SI) for a Gaussian-beam wave propagating through moderate-to-strong non-Kolmogorov turbulence is derived, using a generalized effective atmospheric spectrum and the extended Rytov approximation theory. Finite inner and outer scale parameters and high wave number "bump" are considered in the spectrum with a generalized spectral power law in the range of 3–4, instead of the fixed classical Kolmogorov power law of 11/3. The obtained SI expression is then used to analyze the effects of the spectral power law and the inner scale and outer scale on SI under various non-Kolmogorov fluctuation conditions. These results will be useful in future investigations of optical wave propagation through atmospheric turbulence.     

Irradiance scintillation considering finite turbulence inner scale for optical wave propagating through weak non-Kolmogorov turbulence

The turbulence inner scale plays an important role in investigating the irradiance scintillation index for optical wave propagating through atmospheric turbulence. However, previous expressions of the irradiance scintillation index, which were derived based on the general non-Kolmogorov spectral model, did not consider the influences of finite turbulence inner scale. In this study, based on the generalized exponential spectral model for non-Kolmogorov atmospheric turbulence, theoretical expressions of the irradiance scintillation index are derived for plane and spherical optical waves propagating through weak turbulence. The new expressions have considered the influences of the finite turbulence inner scale and the receiver aperture on the irradiance scintillation index. Numerical simulations are performed to analyze these parameters’ influences.     

Temporal power spectral models of angle of arrival fluctuations for optical waves propagating through weak non-Kolmogorov turbulence

Analytical expressions of the temporal power spectral models of angle of arrival （AOA） fluctuations are derived using the generalized exponential spectral model for optical waves propagating through weak non- Kolmogorov turbulence. Compared with expressions of temporal power spectral models derived from the general non-Kolmogorov spectral model, the new expressions consider the influences of the inner and outer scales of finite turbulence. Numerical calculations show that large outer scales of turbulence increase the value of the temporal power spectrum of AOA fluctuations in low-frequency regions.     

Analysis of the temporal power spectral models of angel of arrival fluctuations for optical waves propagating through weak non-Kolmogorov turbulence

New analytical expressions for the temporal power spectral models of angle of arrival (AOA) fluctuations are derived for optical plane and spherical waves propagating through weak non-Kolmogorov turbulence. They consider the finite turbulence inner and outer scales, and have a general power law value in the range of 3–4 instead of the standard power law value of 11/3. The results derived in this work can reduce correctly to the previously published analytic expressions for the case of plane and spherical waves propagation through Kolmogorov turbulence case. These results are useful for the understanding the potential impact of derivations from the standard Kolmogorov spectrum.     

Theoretical expressions of temporal power spectra of irradiance fluctuations for optical waves propagating through weak non-Kolmogorov turbulence

The temporal power spectra of irradiance fluctuations reflect the frequency distribution of temporal statistical property of irradiance fluctuation. In this paper, new analytical expressions of the temporal power spectral models of irradiance fluctuations are developed for optical waves propagating through weak non-Kolmogorov turbulence with horizontal path. They are derived with the general modified atmospheric spectral model, and they consider the finite turbulence inner and outer scales, and have a general spectral power law value in the range of 3 to 4 instead of the standard power law value of 11/3. Numerical calculations are conducted to analyze the influence of non-Kolmogorov weak turbulence on the temporal power spectra of irradiance fluctuations.     

Experimental investigation on the scintillation index of vortex beams propagating in simulated atmospheric turbulence

The scintillation index of vortex beam in simulated atmospheric turbulence is experimentally investigated. The fluctuation of the intensity can be effectively reduced by vortex beams. In particular, the reduction of scintillation is more pronounced for vortex beams with larger topological charge.     

基于拉盖尔-高斯光束的通信系统在非Kolmogorov湍流中传输的系统容量

涡旋波束在大气湍流中的传输有非常重要的理论研究和实际应用意义. 本文基于利托夫近似和广义惠更斯-菲涅耳原理, 推导出拉盖尔-高斯(LG)光束在非Kolmogorov湍流中斜程传输时的螺旋谱, 并进一步推导出系统的容量. 对基于LG光束的通信系统容量进行了数值计算, 并对指数参数、光束波长、天顶角、湍流内尺度、外尺度、结构常数对系统容量的影响进行了分析比较. 本文的结论能够为LG光束在非Kolmogorov湍流中的通信提供一定的参考价值. 关键词： 拉盖尔-高斯光束 非Kolmogorov湍流 平均容量     

Average capacity of free-space optical systems for a partially coherent beam propagating through non-Kolmogorov turbulence

The performance of partially coherent free-space optical links is investigated in the moderate to strong fluctuation regime of non-Kolmogorov turbulence. The expressions for large- and small-scale log-irradiance flux variance are obtained in non-Kolmogorov turbulence. By employing the gamma-gamma distribution of irradiance fluctuations, the effects of spatial coherence of the source, index of non-Kolmogorov spectrum, and size of the receiver on channel capacity for horizontal links are discussed. Results show that channel capacity presents fluctuating behaviors with the variation of alpha for longer links and increases for alpha values higher than 11/3.     

Degree of polarization for quantum light field propagating through non-Kolmogorov turbulence

Nonclassical polarization properties of a quantum field propagating through non-Kolmogorov turbulence are studied in a turbulent atmosphere paraxial channel. The analytic equation for the quantum degree of polarization of linearly polarized light is obtained. It is shown by numerical simulation that the polarization fluctuations of the quantum field are a function of the turbulent strength, the photon number, the propagation distance, the fractal constant α and the coherence length ρ₀.     

部分相干光在大气湍流中传输的闪烁指数

实验测量了不同空间相干度的部分相干光在实际大气湍流中传输的闪烁指数。结果表明:随着入射光空间相干度的降低,闪烁随光传输距离增长而增加的趋势变得缓慢,甚至出现减小的情况。此外,与完全相干光的闪烁指数随着径向距离的增加而增加不同,部分相干光的闪烁指数沿着光斑径向距离的增加不一定增加,而有可能出现降低。相干度越低,该效应越明显。     

部分相干光在大气湍流中传输的闪烁指数

实验测量了不同空间相干度的部分相干光在实际大气湍流中传输的闪烁指数。结果表明：随着入射光空间相干度的降低,闪烁随光传输距离增长而增加的趋势变得缓慢,甚至出现减小的情况。此外,与完全相干光的闪烁指数随着径向距离的增加而增加不同,部分相干光的闪烁指数沿着光斑径向距离的增加不一定增加,而有可能出现降低。相干度越低,该效应越明显。     

Spreading of partially coherent polychromatic Hermite-Gaussian beams propagating through non-Kolmogorov turbulence

The spreading of partially coherent polychromatic Hermite-Gaussian (PCPHG) beams propagating through non-Kolmogorov turbulence is studied, where the effect of non-Kolmogorov turbulence and beam bandwidth on the beam width spreading and angular spread is stressed. It is shown that the variation of the relative beam width of PCPHG beams with the generalized exponent parameter of non-Kolmogorov turbulence is non-monotonic. The larger bandwidth of PCPHG beams is, the smaller the relative beam width and the smaller the relative angular spread. Therefore, PCPHG beams with larger bandwidth are less affected by non-Kolmogorov turbulence than those with smaller bandwidth. PCPHG beams are less sensitive to the effect of non-Kolmogorov turbulence than fully coherent polychromatic Hermite-Gaussian (FCPHG) beams and polychromatic Gaussian Schell-model (PGSM) beams. The results are illustrated by numerical examples and interpreted.     

Measurements of atmospheric turbulence strength by coherent optical scintillation

Summary The strength of the atmospheric turbulence is measured by an optical scintillation method. The obtained quantity is the structure constant at optical frequencies. As all turbulence parameters, this quantity is strongly affected by meteorological and local conditions, therefore it is of interest to measure it in different conditions and locations. The present measurements were made to characterize the turbulence at Florence. Paper presented at the 1° Congresso del Gruppo Nazionale per la Fisica dell'Atmosfera e dell'Oceano, Rome, June 19–22, 1984.     

部分空间相干光束在非Kolmogorov湍流大气中的有效曲率半径

激光在湍流大气中的传输有重要的理论研究和实际应用意义.以高斯-谢尔模型(GSM)光束作为部分空间相干光的典型例,基于非Kolmogorov谱和广义惠更斯-菲涅耳原理, 推导出GSM光束在非Kolmogorov湍流中的有效曲率半径的解析表达式. 重点研究了湍流参数(包括广义指数α,内尺度l₀,和外尺度L₀) 和传输距离z分别对GSM光束有效曲率半径的影响.结果表明, 有效曲率半径R_x(z)随α和z增加先减小然后再增大, 随L₀的减小而增大(3.6<α< 4),随l₀的增加而增大.并对结果做了物理解释.     

Extension of the van Cittert-Zernike theorem for completely polarized incoherent electromagnetic beam propagating through non-Kolmogorov turbulence

Based on the 2 × 2 cross-spectral density matrix, the van Cittert-Zernike extended theorem is developed for the completely polarized incoherent beams propagation through the paraxial non-Kolmogorov turbulence. On the consequence of the extended theorem and the definition of general spectral degree of cross-polarization of a beam, we found that the spectral degree of cross-polarization of the resultant field is independent of the refractive index structure constant of atmospheric turbulence. We investigated the influences of the propagation distance and the distance of two detection points on the degree of coherence and the spectral degree of cross-polarization.     

Some limitations on optical communication reliability through Kolmogorov and non-Kolmogorov turbulence

In free-space optical communication links, atmospheric turbulence causes fluctuations in both the intensity and the phase of the received signal, affecting link performance.Influence of Kolmogorov and non-Kolmogorov turbulence statistics on laser communication links are analyzed for different propagation scenarios, and effects of different turbulence spectrum models on optical communication links are presented. Statistical estimates of the communication parameters such as the probability of fade (miss) exceeding a threshold dB level, the mean number of fades, and BER are derived and examples provided. The presented quantitative data suggest that the non-Kolmogorov turbulence effects on lasercom channels are more severe in many situations and need to be taken into account in wireless optical communication. Non-Kolmogorov turbulence is especially important for elevations above the boundary layer as well as for even low elevation paths over water.     

Performance of phase compensated coherent free space optical communications through non-Kolmogorov turbulence

The bit-error-rate (BER) performance of coherent free-space optical (FSO) links employing phase compensation techniques is investigated in weak non-Kolmogorov turbulence. Assuming that the amplitude fading and phase fluctuation follow lognormal model and Gaussian distribution respectively and using the expression of non-Kolmogorov turbulence in terms of Zernike polynomials, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at the coherent receiver is analyzed and as a special case, a new closed-form expression using chi-square distribution is obtained. Thus, the influence of different compensation modes and normalized receiver diameter on BER performance is evaluated and an optimum normalized receiver diameter is suggested to achieve the minimum BER. Moreover, the impact of outer scale L₀ and the exponent value α in non-Kolmogorov spectrum is studied with the optimum diameter, which reveals that the BER has an obvious decrease with larger values of L₀ and α.     

Scintillation index for a multimode laser incidence in weak atmospheric turbulence

On-axis scintillation index for a multimode laser incidence is formulated in weak atmospheric turbulence. Our result correctly reduces to the higher-order-gaussian single-mode scintillations that in turn exactly reduces to the fundamental mode scintillation index. It is found that the intensity fluctuations have the same trend for all combinations of mode contents as long as the incident field contains at least one even mode.     

Effects of inner and outer scale on the modulation transfer function for a Gaussian wave propagating through anisotropic non-Kolmogorov turbulence

Both experimental results and empirical research have shown that the atmospheric turbulence can present the anisotropic property not only at a few meters above the ground but also at high altitudes of up to several kilometers. This paper investigates the modulation transfer function of a Gaussian beam propagating along a horizontal path in weak anisotropic non-Kolmogorov turbulence. Mathematical expressions are obtained based on the generalized exponential spectrum for anisotropic turbulence, which includes the spectral power law value, the finite inner and outer scales of turbulence, the anisotropic factor, and other essential optical parameters of the Gaussian beam. The numerical results indicate that the atmospheric turbulence would produce less negative effects on the wireless optical communication system with an increase in the anisotropic factor.     

A three-dimensional refractive index model for simulation of optical wave propagation in atmospheric turbulence

Numerical modeling of optical wave propagation in atmospheric turbulence is traditionally performed with using the so-called “split”-operator method, when the influence of the propagation medium’s refractive index inhomogeneities is accounted for only within a system of infinitely narrow layers (phase screens) where phase is distorted. Commonly, under certain assumptions, such phase screens are considered as mutually statistically uncorrelated. However, in several important applications including laser target tracking, remote sensing, and atmospheric imaging, accurate optical field propagation modeling assumes upper limitations on interscreen spacing. The latter situation can be observed, for instance, in the presence of large-scale turbulent inhomogeneities or in deep turbulence conditions, where interscreen distances become comparable with turbulence outer scale and, hence, corresponding phase screens cannot be statistically uncorrelated. In this paper, we discuss correlated phase screens. The statistical characteristics of screens are calculated based on a representation of turbulent fluctuations of three-dimensional (3D) refractive index random field as a set of sequentially correlated 3D layers displaced in the wave propagation direction. The statistical characteristics of refractive index fluctuations are described in terms of the von Karman power spectrum density. In the representation of these 3D layers by corresponding phase screens, the geometrical optics approximation is used.